NRL Expansion. Ideas and opinions.

[StadiumXIII]

Would like to get ideas and opinions on how or if it will work. With Melbourne and North Queensland being in the Grand Final and just the one in 2015 with the Broncos and Cowboys also looking at how many times the Storm have played in a grand final the NRL are playing it too safe.

Perth will realistically be the only bid the NRL would consider for expansion maybe even Wellington or a second NZ team although I'd love to see PNG have a crack as it would be huge for the game over there maybe the NRL could set targets for 2022-2025 for them. In the meantime the second tier must be the immediate future expansion - Fiji should definitely be there, Perth, Darwin, Wellington, Adelaide and Samoa.

 

[Stormwarrior82]

The Nrl expansion review have stated that they want to increase the state leagues first (currently 14ish teams- increase to 16+ team comps). So I would assume when the Nrl call for expansion bid teams it will be done in 2/3 stages.

First stage would be going through all bids to judge there seriousness and potential. Bids teams should be expected to submit a financial, structural, development, marketing plan as well as a grassroots/state league team option.

Stage 2 would be notifying stage 1 unsuccessful bid teams and point them into the direction of potential mergers or future expansion areas.

In stage 2 Successful stage 1 bid teams would need to show a more in depth development pathways program that leads to state Cup inclusion and future Nrl inclusion.

Stage 3 would be inclusion to state Cup conference with a future plan of Nrl inclusion.

A number of things Also need to happen.
1. Change state cups to conferences. North or south or something similar. It allows all teams to feel included in there comp.
2. Elevate the 2 conferences and promote/market the future players and teams more.
3. Promote expansion bid teams to Nrl sooner rather than later.

I feel a Perth and Brisbane 2 expansion team need to be introduced before the next tv deal (cbs and/or Nrl media) then a png team when the new tv deal starts. Adds a ready made bye that the comp already has (19 teams) Also puts us in a good spot with cbs/10 for next tv deal and shows that our league is not only a national comp but international. Nz2 are having some issues so I'm not sure a 2nd team is needed until they truely fix the development pathways over there. Long term, stealing nz union players isn't a great development pathway.

 

[King hit]

Would love to see Perth get another crack. They have a good specific Rugby stadium, a junior base to work with, good interest and people would turn to League after the ARU shafted them. It would also work for tv viewing on the east coast with the time difference

 

[Perth Red]

There is no nrl expansion strategy, in 3 years the hype will build again as next tv deal starts getting discussed and nrl will come up with numerous excuses why it's not the right time to expand yet. Been happening since 2010 through two new tv deal periods, I dont see much changing come 2020.

 

[Diesel]

Expansion to Perth and Brisbane 2, after that they're going to need to rationalise Sydney clubs and possibility demote clubs to NSW Cup level or create new Sydney teams to replace exisiting ones.

NRL f**ked up in 1998/99 but that is due to pressure from News to reduce clubs/costs. In hindsight, Penrith/Campbelltown, Parramatta/Tigers, Cronulla/Illawarra would make more logical sense.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Expansion to Perth and Brisbane 2, after that they're going to need to rationalise Sydney clubs and possibility demote clubs to NSW Cup level or create new Sydney teams to replace exisiting ones.

NRL f**ked up in 1998/99 but that is due to pressure from News to reduce clubs/costs. In hindsight, Penrith/Campbelltown, Parramatta/Tigers, Cronulla/Illawarra would make more logical sense.

Agree with Panthers + Wests, but Tigers + Norths would have been a better match up and Illawarra Dragons works well...

Should also have been looking to merge Sydney teams with the newer expansion teams; Melbourne Rabbitohs, Gold Coast Mariners (average brand, but it would have saved the GC team), Adelaide Sharks, etc. Plenty of options to save famous brands will clearing the Sydney glut

I doubt they could do it now, but they should also have promoted the City team (form City v Country) as the Sydney United club for fans who lost their own team (an old and well liked brand promoted from a different competition, so strong recognition and history but without the immediate cringe of asking fans to follow a team they hate). For me, not doing this was easily the biggest mistake...

 

[Diesel]

I doubt the ARLC have any plan for Sydney clubs other than, you go bankrupt we won't be bailing you out anymore.

Any demotion of Sydney clubs to NSW Cup may boost that comp a little bit, but you can't be left with Cronulla & Manly being one of 6 clubs representing Sydney

 

[FlameThrower]

Perth is a no brainer - TV / Broadcast Timezone. Large expat from Eastern States, NZ even South Africa /UK who may get behind them too.
There are at least 2 good teams of players playing in ESL who could add to the talent pool. Not to mention players who went across to Union too.
Need 1 more QLD team and if Central Coast can't have its own team than Newcastle and Manly should play 2 games there each so that's 4 NRL games on Central Coast a year at least.
For PNG, I'd suggest they base themselves either in Nth QLD or Darwin with maybe 4 games in PNG, as stadium quality, broadcasting costs and flights accom would be high.
On NZ I don't think they can sustain another team. Warriors are basket case. A combined Pacific team Fiji/ Samoa / Tonga would be a good idea and at the very least these teams should in the 2nd tier comp to start blooding players. Massive talent pool in the Pacific waiting to be found.
For SA I'm not sure about a team there, but would have 4 teams each year rotating to play games there, to build support. All of the above is a 10 year plan but NRL are hopeless in a future vision for the game.
Finally they should look at relocating a few Sydney teams, but to do that they need very generous carrots, unless a club is in dire straits and NRL says u want help then relocate or fold?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

PNG, they actually like the game.

 

[davi]

An article that has called for three Sydney teams to be outed from the comp, that is easier said then done. And the South Sydney court case win against the NRL likely has set a precedent. The other thing is teams that have already merged should be exempt from another merger. Supporters from Sydney clubs that hasn't merged suggesting Tigers and Dragons should be merged again is a bit rich.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11926290

 

[Stallion]

An article that has called for three Sydney teams to be outed from the comp, that is easier said then done. And the South Sydney court case win against the NRL likely has set a precedent. The other thing is teams that have already merged should be exempt from another merger. Supporters from Sydney clubs that hasn't merged suggesting Tigers and Dragons should be merged again is a bit rich.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11926290

Disgracefull efforts aiming to weaken the game again!

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Dragons to Woolloongong
Tigers to Campbeltown
Roosters to Central Coast
Fiji and NZ2 added to the second teir ASAP - NRL to open talks with Samoa and Tonga to start similar ventures
All other teams left in Sydney to take advantage of new stadia where practically possible once built
Perth and Brisbane BRL United added to NRL in 2023
NZ2 and Adelaide added to NRL in 2028 with NZ3 added to the second teir

 

[Stallion]

I notice the expansion thread survey doesnt specify another Brisbane team? Was the survey created by Broncos staff? Four more additional clubs should occur . Brisbane 2nd team and a Perth team the first two added. Then the Central Coast Bears (easily done if they are fair dinkem)and a well chosen 4th additional club out of either NZ, Adelaide maybe or PNG and or Fiji.

 

[The Great Dane]

An article that has called for three Sydney teams to be outed from the comp, that is easier said then done. And the South Sydney court case win against the NRL likely has set a precedent. The other thing is teams that have already merged should be exempt from another merger. Supporters from Sydney clubs that hasn't merged suggesting Tigers and Dragons should be merged again is a bit rich.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11926290

Nope, the Rabbitohs argument of restraint of trade was overturned on appeal, the NRL just didn't want to deal with the bullshit of kicking them out of the competition again after the appeal, which i understand given the circumstances of the time, but it was a mistake.

Frankly mergers are a bad idea full stop, they never work how they're supposed to long term, and any talk of the CC joining the NRL is stupid for all sorts of reasons.

 

[Stallion]

Nope, the Rabbitohs argument of restraint of trade was overturned on appeal, the NRL just didn't want to deal with the bullshit of kicking them out of the competition again after the appeal, which i understand given the circumstances of the time, but it was a mistake.

Frankly mergers are a bad idea full stop, they never work how they're supposed to long term, and any talk of the CC joining the NRL is stupid for all sorts of reasons.

Agree with your merger comment. Additional clubs in new areas is the right way to go. It will increase the reach of the game without weakening the core of the game which should be respected. A positive message is seen if genuine expansion through additional clubs is realised. Other options like relocation and mergering of the game's very familiar and well known core based in Sydney are very negative and are seen as a retreat rather than a progressive move.

 

[jim_57]

Dragons to Woolloongong
Tigers to Campbeltown
Roosters to Central Coast
Fiji and NZ2 added to the second teir ASAP - NRL to open talks with Samoa and Tonga to start similar ventures
All other teams left in Sydney to take advantage of new stadia where practically possible once built
Perth and Brisbane BRL United added to NRL in 2023
NZ2 and Adelaide added to NRL in 2028 with NZ3 added to the second teir

Pretty much this +

• Darwin, Toowoomba & PNG 2 in QLD Cup.
• VIC & Country NSW in NSW Cup
• NZ 2 linking with Samoa & Tonga (Don't think Samoa or Tonga could sustain their own team)
• NZ 3 linking with Cook Islands, Nieu, Hawaii
• Fiji Linking with Solomon Islands, Vanuatu & New Caledonia

The idea of 2nd tier clubs linking with areas unable to sustain their own teams is vital IMO. Creates pathways to get all juniors good enough a clear way to the top from Brisbane to Perth to Dunedin to Apia. Watch the flood of talent from the Pacific.

 

[The Great Dane]

Agree with your merger comment. Additional clubs in new areas is the right way to go. It will increase the reach of the game without weakening the core of the game which should be respected. A positive message is seen if genuine expansion through additional clubs is realised. Other options like relocation and mergering of the game's very familiar and well known core based in Sydney are very negative and are seen as a retreat rather than a progressive move.

Yeah mergers have never worked how they are supposed to anywhere (as far as I know), and relocations only work under very particular sets of circumstances (and are extremely risky), but you can only expand the competition so much before you run out of room and the resources to sustain them all, so you have to be very careful about who you let into the competition and who don't.

Rationalisation is inevitable if the NRL wants to continue to grow (and keep up with other sports as they go global while we're still fighting to go national), relegation is the way for the NRL to go about this, drop the clubs that you don't want in the NRL anymore down into a lower tier comp and replace them with new clubs from new markets.

 

[BuderusIsaBeast]

Wests Tigers to Perth = West Coast Tigers
St George Illawarra Dragons = Adelaide Dragons
Souths or bulldogs or penrith can take a couple of games to Campbeltown
Another sydney team can take a couple of games to Wollongong similar to the sydney roosters takeing games to the central coast

St George Dragons, Illawarrs Steelers, Balmain Tigers and Wests Magpies all in NSW Cup

Will never happen but I think this would be perfect, future expansion to Brisbane 2 and PNG, im personally not sold on NZ 2

 

[Diesel]

The suits at the ARLC can't see past Sydney

 

[Vee]

The suits at the ARLC can't see past Sydney

This.